Holder for soap bar or like article



Oct. 15, 1963 B. J. BARISH HOLDER FOR SOAP BAR OR LIKE ARTICLE Filed July 10, 1961 United States Patent 3,106,798 HOLDER FOR SOAP BAR OR LIKE ARTICLE Benjamin J. Barish, Detroit, Mich. (Box N0. 1169, Tel Aviv, Israel) Filed July 10, 1961, Ser. No. 122,864 12 Claims. (Cl. 45--28) The present invention relates to a device for holding a bar of soap or like article, and is particularly applicable to a device for supporting an article in a suspended manner with means for quickly and conveniently effecting the engagement and release of the article.

A broad object of the invention is to provide an improved device for holding or supporting a bar of soap or like article.

More particularly, the objects of the invention include the provision of an improved device which is capable of holding a bar of soap in a suspended manner such that substantially its entire surface is exposed to air, facilitating its rapid and thorough drying; which permits the soap to be quickly and conveniently engaged and released by the user; and which is positive in operation and simple in construction requiring few parts that can be inexpensively built and assembled.

These, and other objects and advantages which will become apparent as the description proceeds, are attainable by the present invention described below with reference to several preferred embodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of one embodiment of a soap holder constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front plan view, partly in section, of a slightly different embodiment of a soap holder constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a variation that can be incorporated in the embodiment of FIG. 1 or of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a front plan view, partly in section, of a further variation that can be incorporated in the embodiment of FIG. 1 or of FIG. 2.

Referring first to FIG. 1 illustrating one embodiment, it is seen that the holder comprises a supporting member 2 of ring-shaped construction and a second ring-shaped member 4 suspended therebelow by means of a cylindrical coil spring 6, one end coil 8 of which is press-fitted in a circumferential groove on member 2, with the end coil 16 at the opposite end being press-fitted in a similar groove on member 4. Any other suitable means for attaching coil spring 6 to members 2 and 4 may be used, the arrangement being such that spring 6 provides a resilient mounting for member 4 from member 2. Spring 6 is contractible so as to permit the movement, or vertical displacement, of ring 4 toward and away from supporting member 2. Supporting member 2 is secured to a wall or other support by a bracket 12 mountable on the wall by fasteners 14, the bracket supporting ring mem her 2 by another fastener 16, such as a wing nut, passing through a pair of ears 18 formed on member 2.

The pair of arms, or tongs, generally designated as 20 and 30, which are adapted to engage and support the soap bar in a suspended manner, are disposed within the cylindrical housing formed by members 2 and 4 and coil spring 6. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, arms 20 and 30 are carried by a pin 46 which is secured to extend diametrically across the opening in ring member 4 by means of legs 42 and 44 formed at opposite ends of pin 40 and received in apertures in the ring member 4. Pin 40 is spaced above the upper surface of ring member 4, this spacing being adjustable, if desired, by set screws 46 passing through the inner surface of member 4 and 3,106,798 Patented Oct. 15, 1963 cooperable with each leg 42, 44 of pin 40. In FIG. 1 (and also FIG. 2) only the set screw 46 cooperable with leg 44 can be seen.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, each arm 20 and 38 is formed of fairly rigid material, such as metal wire or plastic, and is pivotally supported on pin 40. Arm 20 includes a pointed end 22, which is adapted to engage and slightly embed in the soap bar, pointed end 22 being joined by an inwardly extending bend 24 to two loops 26 looped about pin 40 and terminating in an outwardly extending free end 28 projecting from the side of pin 40 opposite to its pointed end 22. Arm 30 is similarly constructed, the corresponding parts being pointed end 32, inwardly extending bend 34, the two loops 36, and outwardly extending free end 38. A coil spring 50 is fastened between free ends 28 and 38, tending to draw them together, thereby biasing their respective pointed ends 22, 32 together, i.e. to a closed position.

The means for opening the arms 20 and 30, in order to receive the soap bar, are carried by the supporting member 2. As shown, this means comprises a pair of pins 60, 70 secured to the underside of supporting member 2 at opposite sides of its central opening, such as to be engageable by the free ends 28 and 38. Pin 60 is secured in this position by its end legs 62 affixed to the underside of member 2, and pin 70 is similarly supported by its end legs 72 afiixed to member 2 but at the opposite side of its central opening. In the normal position of this device, free ends 28, 38 of arms 20, 30 preferably just bear in light contact with, or are slightly spaced from pins 60 and 70.

From the foregoing description of FIG. 1, it can be seen that coil spring 50 normally biases arms 20 and 30 to their closed positions. However, when ring member is moved upwardly, free ends 28 and 38 of arms 20 and 30 also move upwardly to press against pins 60 and 70. The latter pins then cam free ends 28 and 38 apart, causing arms 20 and 30 to pivot about pin 40 in an opening direction. As soon as the force moving ring member 4 is removed, this member returns to its normal position by the actions of gravity, mounting spring 6 and spring 50. The return of ring 4 also returns the ends 28 and 38, permitting spring 50 to return the arms 20 and 30 to their normal, closed position.

In practice, when the user desires to apply the soap bar to the holder, he holds the bar with one hand such that the bar is embraced by his four fingers curving around the bar in one direction and his thumb curving around the bar in the other direction. That is, the upper surfaces of his index finger and thumb together form an approximate circular outline, with the soap bar in the center. The user than engages the underside of ring 4 with the upper surface of his hand, so formed, and with the soap bar in alignment with the junction between arms 20 and 30 in the opening in ring 4 and perpendicular to pointed end 22 and 32 of arms 20 and 30. A light upward pressure on ring 4 will contract spring 6 and raise ring 4, causing the arms 20 and 30 to open in the manner described above until they can receive the soap bar therebetween. The user then releases ring 4 permitting spring 6 to expand to its normal position and ring 4 to return. As it returns, arms 20, 30 close on the bar with the pointed ends 22, 32 becoming embedded therein until they can move no closer, which thereby also terminates the return of ring 4. The soap bar is thus suspended in a drip-dry manner with virtually its entire surface exposed to air. The weight of member 4 and the resiliency of springs 6 and 50 apply a positive pressure against arms 20 and 30 to hold the soap bar.

To remove the soap bar, the user simply raises ring 4 with his hand, similarly formed to grasp the bar. This opens arms 20, 30 at which time the bar moves by its own weight, or the user moves the bar, past the pointed ends 22, 32, before ring 4 is released to permit the arms to close.

By a light squeezing pressure against the soap bar, the bar is easily slipped upwardly towards the arms 20, 30, when inserting the bar into the holder, or downwardly away from the arms, when removing the bar, since the bar, presents a slippery surface to the hand permitting it to be selectively moved in either direction by a light squeeze.

Ring 4 is referred to herein as the manipulatible member, since this is the member which is moved by the users hand to cause the holder to engage the soap bar. While this member may take different shapes, the ring or circular shape illustrated is particularly advantageous as it is more conveniently manipulatible by the users hand holding the soap bar in the manner described above. The resilient mounting (coil spring 6) for ring member 4 also facilitates its manipulation by the user.

The embodiment of FIG. 2 is quite similar to that of FIG. 1, except that the soap-engaging arms (designated in FIG. 2 as and 36') are formed of a single piece of spring wire which operates by its inherent resiliency for maintaining the arms closed, thereby obviating spring 50. In this embodiment, the opposite ends of the wire from the pointed, soap-engaging ends 22', 32'. Starting from end 22, it is seen the wire includes an inwardly extending end portion 24' which crosses over a similarly formed portion 34 from end the two ends continuing with two further inwardly extending portions 26, 36' joining together exactly midway of the wire in loop 28' formed about pin 46'. The latter pin of course corresponds to pin 40 of the FIG. 1 embodiment, except it is spaced somewhat higher than pin 40 from ring 4 and therefore is formed with longer legs 42 and 44'. Pins 60 and 70 carried by supporting member 2 may be constructed the same as in FIG. 1, except they cam against portions 26', 36 of the wire (rather than free ends 28, 38 of FIG. 1) to fiex the wires at the junctions 27', 37 to open and close the free ends 22, 32'. The operation of the FIG. 2 embodiment is otherwise the same as in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 illustrating in dotted lines the position of the parts when the free ends 22', 32' are open.

The variation illustrated in FIG. 3 is particularly useful where the device is to be used in a shower, for example. In this variation, the supporting ring 2 is closed by a horizontal plate 80 which covers the central opening of ring 2. Plate 80 is dimensionally larger than ring 2 so as to shroud the holder and the soap bar (illustrated as S in FIG. 3) carried by the holder, from the shower spray. The upper surface of plate 80 may be dished, as at 82, to form a soap tray for the temporary reception of the soap bar. FIG. 3 also illustrates a variation in the means for mounting the holder to the wall, the means shown being a suction cup 84 carried on one end of post 86 mounted on supporting ring 2. Actually, ring 2 is not necessary in this variation, since plate 80 can serve the same function as the supporting member for coil spring 6 and manipulatible ring 4, as well as for suction cup 84 and its mounting post 86.

The structure of soap engaging arms 20 and 30, and the means by which they are carried and operated in the holder, may be as shown and described with respect to either embodiment of FIG. 1 or of FIG. 2.

In the several embodiments so far described, supporting ring 2 and manipulatible ring 4 are shown as made from plastic material, but it will be understood that metal or other suitable material could be used. When these members are made of molded plastic material, camming pins 60 and 70 may be formed as integrally molded projections in member 2. Coil spring 6 may be of metal, or plasticcoated metal.

FIG. 4 illustrates a further variation where a plastic bellows 90 is used as the resilient mounting for ring 4, in lieu of the coil spring 6. Since, with this arrangement, air will not be permitted to circulate within the holder and about the soap bar, as in the open coil 6 arrangement for the resilient mounting of FIGS. 1-3, it is desirable to form ring 4 with a pair of cut-outs diametrically aligned with the junction point of arms 2% and 30 so as to provide more air exposure to the soap bar. This cutout formation is also shown in FIG. 3, and it will be appreciated that it could also be applied to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2. To further increase air circulation in the variation of FIG. 4, bellows 90 may be provided with openings or perforations (not shown) in any suitable arrangement which will not interfere with its function to serve as a resilient mounting for member 4.

It will be understood that many other variations, modifications and applications of the invention, and the several features thereof disclosed, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a supporting member; a manipulatible member; a pair of axially aligned arms carried by said manipulatible member; means mounting said manipulatible member and said pair of arms in spaced relation to said supporting member, said mounting means permitting said manipulatible member to be moved from its normal position spaced from said supporting member toward said supporting member; and means carried by said supporting member so as to be engagcable by said arms to open said arms for the reception of a bar of soap or the like when said manipulatible member is moved toward said supporting member.

2. A device of the character described comprising a ring-shaped manipulatible member; resilient means mounting said manipulatible member to depend from a support for movement vertically toward and away from said support; a pair of axially aligned arms carried by said manipulatible member; and means supported in the path of movement of said arms and effective to move said arms toward and away from each other to engage and release an article upon said movement of said manipulatible member.

3. A device of the character described for supporting an article in a suspended manner comprising a manipulatible member; cylindrical resilient means for mounting said member in a suspended manner to a support, said cylindrical resilient means being contractible to permit vertical displacement of said manipulatible member toward and away from the support; article engaging means disposed within said manipulatible member; and means effective to open and close said article engaging means upon the vertical displacement of said manipulatible memher while suspended from said cylindrical resilient mountmg means.

4. A device of the character described for supporting an article in a suspended manner comprising a manipulatible member; a cylindrical coiled spring attached at one end to said manipulatible member and attachable at its other end to a support for mounting said member in a suspended manner to said support, said coil spring being contractible to permit vertical displacement of said manipulatible member toward and away from the support; article engaging means disposed within said manipulatible member; and means effective to open and close said article engaging means upon the vertical displacement of said manipulatible member while suspended from said cylindrical coiled spring.

5. A device of the character described for supporting an article in a suspended manner comprising a manipulatible member; a bellows attached at one end of said manipulatible member and attachable at its other end to a support for resiliently mounting said member in a suspended manner to said support, said coil spring being contractible to permit vertical displacement of said manipulatible member toward and away from the support; article grasping means disposed within said manipulatible member; and means effective to open and close said article grasping means upon the vertical displacement of said manipulatible member while suspended from said bellows.

6. A device of the character described comprising a ring-shaped supporting member; a ring-shaped manipulatible member; cylindrical resilient means interposed between and attaching said two members together forming a cylindrical housing, said cylindrical resilient means being contractible to permit movement of said manipulatible member toward and away from said supporting member; article engaging means carried by said cylindrical housing; and means effective to open and close said article engaging means upon the movement of said manipulatible member toward and away from said supporting member.

7. A device of the character described comprising a supporting member; a manipulatible member; resilient means mounting said manipulatible member for movement toward and away from said supporting member; a pin carried by said manipulatible member; a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said pin; spring means normally biasing said arms in one direction relative to each other; and means carried by said supporting member efiective to pivot said arms in the opposite direction relative to each other when said manipulatible member is moved toward said supporting member.

8. A device of the character described comprising a supporting member; a manipulatible member; resilient means mounting said manipulatible member for movement toward and away from said supporting member; a pin carried by said manipulatible member; a piece of spring wire carried by said pin at a mid portion of said spring wire; the ends of said spring wire being bent to form axially aligned arms normally biased toward each other by the inherent resiliency of said spring wire, with portions of said wire between the ends and the mid portion thereof being bent to form camming surfaces; and means efiective to engage said camming surfaces thereof to open said axially aligned arms when said manipulatible member is moved toward said supporting member.

9. A device of the character described comprising a ring-shaped supporting member; a ring-shaped manipulatible member; cylindrical resilient means mounting said manipulatible member for movement toward and away from said supporting member, said cylindrical resilient means being contractible to permit movement of said manipulatible member toward said supporting member;

a pair of axially aligned arms pivotally carried by said manipulatible member; spring means normally biasing said arms toward each other; and means carried by said supporting member effective to pivot said arms away from each other when said manipulatible member is moved toward said supporting member.

10. A device of the character described comprising a ring-shaped supporting member; a ring-shaped manipulatible member; cylindrical resilient means mounting said manipulatible member for movement toward and away from said supporting member; a pin carried by said manipulatible member; a piece of spring wire carried by said pin at a mid portion of said spring wire; the ends of said spring wire being bent to form axially aligned arms normally biased toward each other by the inherent resiliency of said spring wire, with portions of said wire between the ends and the mid portion thereof being bent to form camming surfaces; and means carried by said supporting member effective to engage said camming surfaces to open said axially aligned arms when said manipulatible member is moved toward said supporting member.

11. A device of the character described comprising a manipulatible member; a supporting member; cylindrical resilient means for mounting said manipulatible member to depend in a suspended manner below said supporting member, said cylindrical resilient means being contractible to permit vertical displacement of said manipulatible member toward said supporting member; a pair of axially aligned arms carried by said manipulatible member; means effective to move said arms toward and away from each other upon the movement of said manipulatible member to engage and release a bar of soap; and a horizontal dished plate carried by said supporting member above said manipulatible member and shrouding the bar of soap from a shower spray or the like when engaged by said arms.

12. A device of the character described for supporting a bar of soap or the like comprising a horizontal dished plate; means for mounting said plate to a support; a pair of axially aligned arms movable toward and away from each other for engaging or releasing the bar of soap; means for supporting said arms so as to depend below said horizontal plate with said horizontal plate shrouding the bar of soap from a shower spray or the like; and manipulatible means for effecting movement of said arms toward and away from each other to engage and release the bar of soap.

Lacy Oct. 9, 1928 Margo July 11, 1950 

1. A DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCBIBED COMPRISING A SUPPORTING MEMBER; A MANIPULATIBLE MEMBER; A PAIR OF AXIALLY ALIGNED ARMS CARRIED BY SAID MANIPULATIBLE MEMBER; MEANS MOUNTING SAID MANIPULATIBLE MEMBER AND SAID PAIR OF ARMS IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER, SAID MOUNTING MEANS PERMITTING SAID MANIPULATIBLE MEMBER TO BE MOVED FROM ITS NORMAL POSITION SPACED FROM SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER TOWARD SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER; AND MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER SO AS TO BE ENGAGEABLE BY SAID ARMS TO OPEN SAID ARMS FOR THE RECEPTION OF A BAR OF SOAP OR THE LIKE WHEN SAID MANIPULATIBLE MEMBER IS MOVED TOWARD SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER. 